Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called for "broad dialogue" on the prospects for the country's development.

Putin wrote in an article posted on putin2012.ru, the website for his presidential election campaign, that only wide-reaching discussion and agreement on national goals could take the country forward.

He said Russia needs change but that change should be the result of "logical development" rather than revolution.

He also said the opposition is lacking ideas ahead of the March 4 presidential election.

Putin, who will be running for a third term in the election, says he expects that those "who do not hope to win will boldly make promises they will not have to keep."

Russia saw its largest protests in nearly two decades following the December 4 parliamentary elections, in which Putin's United Russia party retained a narrow majority amid allegations of fraud.

The opposition has called for a new rally on February 4.

One of the main calls for the rally states simply: "How long are you going to trust Putin's promises?"

The Fitch international ratings agency today revised down the outlook on Russia's debt ratings from positive to stable saying that recent events in the country "highlighted the limitations and risks associated with Russia's political model."